Zinke Asked For Confidential Energy Data. So Two Scientists Left.

"Two senior U.S. Geological Survey officials have stepped down after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke asked that they provide his office with confidential data on the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska before it was released to the general public.

Murray W. Hitzman and Larry Meinert — who had served as the agency’s associate director for energy and minerals and acting deputy associate director for energy and minerals mission area, respectively — charge that the request violated the USGS’s scientific integrity policy because such commercially valuable data should not be shared in advance. Section 3c of the policy states, “Particularly sensitive results, however, such as energy and mineral resource assessments and mineral commodity reports that typically have significant economic implications are not disclosed or shared in advance of public release because pre-release in these cases could result in unfair advantage or the perception of unfair advantage.”

Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift, however, said Wednesday that the solicitor’s office had determined that Zinke and his deputy, David Bernhardt, have to right to “review data, draft reports, or other information as it deems necessary” under the department’s 1950 reorganization plan."

Juliet Eilperin reports for the Washington Post February 21, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"A Government Scientist Resigned in Protest After the Trump Administration Demanded Sensitive Oil Data" (Mother Jones)